Tianhe Space station

China launched an unmanned module called Tianhe containing what will become living quarters for three crew on a permanent space station that it plans to complete by the end of 2022.

The module is named “Tianhe”, or “Harmony of the Heavens”.
- A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting crew members, designed to remain in space for an extended period of time and for other spacecraft to dock.
Tianhe is one of three main components of what would be China’s first self-developed space station, rivalling the only other station in service – the International Space Station (ISS). Work on the space station programme began a decade ago with the launch of a space lab Tiangong-1 in 2011, and later, Tiangong-2 in 2016.
- The ISS is backed by the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada. China was barred from participating by the United States.
Tianhe forms the main living quarters for three crew members in the Chinese space station, which will have a lifespan of at least 10 years.
The Tianhe launch was the first of 11 missions needed to complete the space station, which will orbit Earth at an altitude of 340 to 450 km (211-280 miles).
In the later missions, China will launch the two other core modules, four manned spacecraft and four cargo spacecraft.

China aims to become a major space power by 2030.
ISS is about to expire by 2024, hence China hopes to be the leader by providing the alternative.

India has also set its eye on building its own space station in low earth orbit to conduct microgravity experiments in space in 5 to 7 years.

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